A second minor has died after the drowning incident at L'Arrabassada beach in Tarragona on Friday, according to the president of the Catalan government, Salvador Illa. Another 12-year-old had already been confirmed dead, while emergency services had earlier reported two other minors in critical condition.

The incident matters for Tarragona residents, beachgoers and visiting families because it happened at one of the city's best-known urban beaches. Officials have not released further identification details about the children, and the circumstances of the incident have not been fully detailed publicly.

"Consternat per la mort del segon menor en l'ofegament a la platja de l'Arrabassada de Tarragona."

Illa announced the second death in a post on X on Saturday. Earlier reporting from 3Cat and Agència Catalana de Notícies said one minor had died and two others had been taken away in critical condition.

What emergency services said on Friday

The Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques, Catalonia's public ambulance service, responded to the incident at the Tarragona beach. The Generalitat's emergency structure and other responders were also involved.

  • One 12-year-old was initially confirmed dead on Friday.
  • Two other minors were reported to be in critical condition.
  • The incident happened at Platja de l'Arrabassada, a major beach in Tarragona.

As of the latest official update cited here, authorities have not published a fuller public account of how the children got into difficulty in the water. When details remain unconfirmed, our newsroom follows its Editorial Policy and reports only information attributed to named official or primary sources.

What beach users in Tarragona should know

L'Arrabassada is a popular city beach used by residents and visitors, especially in warmer weather. People planning to swim should check official beach conditions and any warnings before entering the sea.

  • Check the latest beach forecast and conditions through AEMET, Spain's state weather agency.
  • Follow any instructions from lifeguards, Protecció Civil, or local authorities.
  • For local updates, residents can monitor information published by the Ajuntament de Tarragona.

Families, swimmers and visitors should avoid entering the water if conditions appear unsafe or if official warnings are in place. Tarragona Turisme describes L'Arrabassada as one of the city's main beaches, which can attract large numbers of users during busy periods.

Official confirmation and next steps

The second death was made public by Salvador Illa in an official social media statement. No further medical or police update was included in the source material provided for publication.

Anyone seeking practical local guidance should use official channels, including the Tarragona city council, Protecció Civil and the SEM. Readers can also review how we handle verified sourcing on our Source Transparency page.

Primary sources: Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) / Generalitat de Catalunya, Protecció Civil de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC). Reported by 3Cat, Agència Catalana de Notícies (ACN), Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), Tarragona Turisme, Ajuntament de Tarragona, Ara.